Vassil one off lead at state Senior Golf Amateur; Lawler leads Super Seniors

Butch Comegys / Staff photographer
Sam Lewis of Montrose hits a shot out of a bunker on the 18th hole during the 54th Pennsylvania Senior Amateur Championship held Monday at the Country Club of Scranton in South Abington Twp.

SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. - Country Club of Scranton's Mike Vassil couldn't have been happier with his first 14 holes of golf in the Pennsylvania Senior Amateur.

Three birdies and an eagle had him coasting along at 5 under par on his home course.

But a pair of missteps on the next two holes cost him three shots and the outright lead after Monday's first of two rounds in the championship at the Country Club of Scranton.

Fox Hill Country Club's Bill Lawler had his way over his final nine holes and leads the Super-Senior championship, for players over age 65, by one after a 3-under 69.

"If somebody told me 70 while I was standing on the first tee, I'd take it and go in and have a sandwich," Vassil said. "But having gotten it to 5 under, and playing good and being comfortable, I'm disappointed not to have shot something in the 60s."

Vassil made it to 4-under par when he rolled in a 30-foot eagle try on the 12th hole, then birdied the par-5 14th to get it 5 under.

A nearly perfect chip on No. 15 left him with a difficult par putt that he couldn't get to fall.

"I made a good chip on No. 15 and it hit and stayed up on the hill," Vassil said. "If it comes back half a roll, it comes back down the hill for a tap-in."

A poor drive on No. 16 hit the cart path and kicked way right, forcing Vassil to lay up on the par 4. His second shot landed in a divot and he couldn't get it to the green, making double-bogey.

Considering he had not been pleased with his play of late, Vassil was satisfied.

"(Scranton pro) Terry Hurst helped me with my swing because I haven't been playing all that well," Vassil said. "He got me a little closer to the ball so I hit the ball really solid and I putted really well.

"But you can't win it today, all you can do is stay in it. Hopefully, I'll stay comfortable with my swing and stay in the hunt."

Delcher dominated the par 5s, birdieing each en route to his 69 and a one-shot lead.

"It's funny because I'm not long at all," said Delcher, who plays out of Sandy Run near Fort Washington. "But I hit a lot of good shots and got it in there reasonably close and made them. I putted well today and I played OK.

"I made a couple mistakes where I hit it over the greens and I know better. I'll try not to do that (today). It's a very cool golf course and it fits me I guess."

Delcher birdied Nos. 2, 3 and 4, then Nos. 8 and 9, and all the three par 5s on the inward nine.

"You have to get it in the right spot on the greens and fortunately I was in the right spot a lot of times," Delcher said.

Schlachter, who has won two of the last three state Senior Amateur titles, didn't get a chance to play a practice round because he was playing his club championship at the Club at Nevillewood near Pittsburgh.

His birdie on the par-5 No. 18, a two-putt from about 60 feet from the chipping area below the green, capped an unsatisfying round.

"I played like a dog," Schlachter said. "I three-putted No. 10 from 20 feet. Back in Pittsburgh, my club and a number of clubs are really struggling because we had some diseases and our green speeds are like 8 or 9.

"Coming to this, I never did get the speed. Hopefully I'll feel better (today)."

Some of Schlachter's problems stemmed from not knowing the lines off the tee since the recent course renovations, even though he's played three or four tournaments here.

"I wasn't sure ... and hit it behind the trees on No. 15," Schlachter said. "I hit a shot just a couple yards onto the front of the second par-5 on the back (No. 14) and it was like it was shot from a gun and over the back. I just didn't know that. A couple of other times it got me but it's just wonderful to play. I love the look."

Super Senior

Because he's so reticent to toot his own horn, it's hard to get a read on just how well Lawler is playing.

But in a five-hole stretch on the front nine, his inward leg, Lawler made four birdies to claim the lead by a stroke over Lee Lykens and Frank Polizzi, who are one stroke behind after recording 70s.

"They did have the course set up a little shorter than normal," Lawler said. "But the greens are fast enough to make it a problem."

Lawler didn't make a birdie until No. 18, his ninth hole, and followed it immediately with a bogey. Then he got on a run that saw him birdie the next three and finally No. 6.

"I actually hit the ball well for a change," Lawler said. "My game is like a yo-yo. I've been playing better the last couple days and I've been hitting it better."

Lawler's final pairing in the Super Senior event will tee off at 9:30 this morning.

Contact the writer: mmyers@timesshamrock.com @mmyersTT on Twitter

PA. SENIOR AMATEUR

At C. C. of Scranton

Par 72, 6,375 yards

Duke Delcher, Sandy Run 69

Mike Vassil, C.C. of Scranton 70

Paul Schlachter, Club at Nevillewood 70

Ed Knoll, Deer Run 71

Don Erickson, Indiana C.C. 72

Robin McCool, Saucon Valley 72

Joe Corsi, Hannastown G.C. 72

Rick Scott, West Shore C.C. 72

Sam Lewis, Huntsville G.C. 73

Tom Bartolacci Jr., Saucon Valley 73

Ed Chylinski, Chester Valley 73

Todd Kennedy, C.C. of York 73

Mike Owsik, Philadelphia Publinks 73

Fred Stern, Totteridge G.C. 74

Scott Orr, Brookside C.C. 74

Vince Scarpetta Jr., Glenmaura National 74

James Prendergast, Philadelphia Publinks 74

Michael Domenick, Phoenixville C.C. 74

Gary Daniels, Applebrook G.C. 74

PA. SUPER-SENIOR AMATEUR

(Age 65 and over)

At C. C. of Scranton

Par 72, 5,950 yards

Bill Lawler, Fox Hill C.C. 69

Lee Lykens, Totteridge G.C. 70

Frank Polizzi, Whitemarsh Val. C.C. 70

Thomas O'Rourke, Chester Valley G.C. 72

Ross Van Wagenen, Windber C.C. 72

Don Donatoni, White Manor C.C.

Dave Denezza, Hannastown G.C. 73

Carl Everett, Merion G.C. 73

Ed Gregorczyk, Glenmaura National 74

Bruce Berry, C.C. of Scranton 75

Andy Tompos, Lancaster Host 75

George McLaughlin, Commonwealth Nat'l. 76

George Elias, Irem C.C. 76

Ron Pieczynski, Jack Frost Nat'l. 76

John Rowe, Whitemarsh Val. C.C. 77

Donald Cain, Unaffiliated 77

Andy Beechko, C.C. of Scranton 77

Phil Saylor Unaffiliated 77

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